to have to close the library for a few weeks.” “Close the library? But...the students need the library. We can’t
close for weeks.” “Well, this here wall
alone is going to have to have the paint stripped and then we’ll have to put on
at least two coats of primer before repainting. And we’ve got two more walls just like this one.” I rubbed my temples, trying to fight back a
headache. “Can’t the painting be done in
the evening after the library closes?” He shook his head. “I wish it
could but we’re looking at least a month or two getting it done that way.”
“Crap! This is such a nightmare.” I looked around. “What if we restrict access to whichever
section is being painted at the time?” “Sorry, no can do. The college’s
liability insurance won’t allow students in the building while we’re painting
and doing the repairs. You’re going to have
to pack up these books and put them in storage, unless you can come up with an
alternative location.” “What about the
study rooms? Can the students at least
access those?” He scratched his head
while thinking. “That would still mean
allowing them in the building so I don’t think that’s possible. How about empty classrooms?”
I considered
this. “If we can get access
to enough empty classrooms, we can use them for studying but that still doesn’t
solve the problem of the students having access to the books.” I paced around the area as I thought. Stopping
back in front of him, I snapped my fingers. “I’ve got it. Many of our books are on the
computer. I’ve been working
on getting them scanned into electronic format for the past year or so. Only the ones that I have gotten
copyright permission for are on the computer but, if I can set up one of the
larger classrooms as a temporary library for the ones not on computer, I’m sure
my student workers and I can handle that.”
He grinned and nodded. “That just might work. Once you find a classroom and get the books
moved, my guys can start stripping the paint off the walls.” “Perfect.” I looked around at the mess. “I’ve got a few people coming to help out today so we should be able to
get everything packed up by late afternoon.” He nodded again. “My guys can get
started tomorrow, then. Let me go and
grab you some boxes and carts to haul the books once you find a
classroom.” I stopped him with a hand on
his arm. “Um...” I bit my lip
nervously. “Would you mind waiting
around for a few minutes, just until someone else shows up? They...they haven’t caught the two girls who
orchestrated this and I’m just a little...nervous to be here by myself.”
He looked
concerned. “Oh...of course, Ms.
Mac. I hadn’t realized those lunatics
were still running around loose.” He
looked around. “I tell you what...how
about I help you go through the books to check for damage while we’re waiting
for your friends?” “Oh, Mr.
Hansen...you’re the best.” Impulsively,
I threw my arms around his neck and gave him a big hug. He awkwardly patted me on the back, his face
red. I realized that I embarrassed him
but he was always so sweet to me. Pulling away, I smiled up at him. “How about I go in the break room and make us a pot of coffee? Looking at this mess, I think we’re going to
need it.” He grinned, “That’d be
good. In the meantime, I’ll get the
trash picked up so we have room to work.” He got busy while I headed in the back to make coffee.
While the coffee brewed, I wandered back out into the main room
of the library to help clean up the trash. Mr. Hansen had brought in a large garbage can and had it filled half
full of torn paper and broken glass from the window Brittney and Tanya
broke. I began picking up books that were
strewn around the room and checking them for damage before
close for weeks.” “Well, this here wall
alone is going to have to have the paint stripped and then we’ll have to put on
at least two coats of primer before repainting. And we’ve got two more walls just like this one.” I rubbed my temples, trying to fight back a
headache. “Can’t the painting be done in
the evening after the library closes?” He shook his head. “I wish it
could but we’re looking at least a month or two getting it done that way.”
“Crap! This is such a nightmare.” I looked around. “What if we restrict access to whichever
section is being painted at the time?” “Sorry, no can do. The college’s
liability insurance won’t allow students in the building while we’re painting
and doing the repairs. You’re going to have
to pack up these books and put them in storage, unless you can come up with an
alternative location.” “What about the
study rooms? Can the students at least
access those?” He scratched his head
while thinking. “That would still mean
allowing them in the building so I don’t think that’s possible. How about empty classrooms?”
I considered
this. “If we can get access
to enough empty classrooms, we can use them for studying but that still doesn’t
solve the problem of the students having access to the books.” I paced around the area as I thought. Stopping
back in front of him, I snapped my fingers. “I’ve got it. Many of our books are on the
computer. I’ve been working
on getting them scanned into electronic format for the past year or so. Only the ones that I have gotten
copyright permission for are on the computer but, if I can set up one of the
larger classrooms as a temporary library for the ones not on computer, I’m sure
my student workers and I can handle that.”
He grinned and nodded. “That just might work. Once you find a classroom and get the books
moved, my guys can start stripping the paint off the walls.” “Perfect.” I looked around at the mess. “I’ve got a few people coming to help out today so we should be able to
get everything packed up by late afternoon.” He nodded again. “My guys can get
started tomorrow, then. Let me go and
grab you some boxes and carts to haul the books once you find a
classroom.” I stopped him with a hand on
his arm. “Um...” I bit my lip
nervously. “Would you mind waiting
around for a few minutes, just until someone else shows up? They...they haven’t caught the two girls who
orchestrated this and I’m just a little...nervous to be here by myself.”
He looked
concerned. “Oh...of course, Ms.
Mac. I hadn’t realized those lunatics
were still running around loose.” He
looked around. “I tell you what...how
about I help you go through the books to check for damage while we’re waiting
for your friends?” “Oh, Mr.
Hansen...you’re the best.” Impulsively,
I threw my arms around his neck and gave him a big hug. He awkwardly patted me on the back, his face
red. I realized that I embarrassed him
but he was always so sweet to me. Pulling away, I smiled up at him. “How about I go in the break room and make us a pot of coffee? Looking at this mess, I think we’re going to
need it.” He grinned, “That’d be
good. In the meantime, I’ll get the
trash picked up so we have room to work.” He got busy while I headed in the back to make coffee.
While the coffee brewed, I wandered back out into the main room
of the library to help clean up the trash. Mr. Hansen had brought in a large garbage can and had it filled half
full of torn paper and broken glass from the window Brittney and Tanya
broke. I began picking up books that were
strewn around the room and checking them for damage before
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